Compensation & Compliance Associate (Ridgefield Park, NJ)

Job Responsibilities

• Process the full biweekly payroll cycle, including wages, overtime, commissions, bonuses, paid leave, deductions, and approved payroll-related reimbursements.
• Validate timekeeping records, finalize timesheet approvals, and resolve missing or inaccurate entries before payroll deadlines.
• Maintain accurate HRIS records for new hires, separations, compensation changes, tax withholding elections, benefit deductions, and employment status.
• Reconcile payroll registers and supporting reports; resolve discrepancies with Accounting, the payroll provider (UKG), and HR management.
• Coordinate payroll tax filings, quarterly wage and contribution reporting, and year-end Forms W-2 with the payroll provider.
• Administer benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, and coverage terminations for medical, dental, vision, retirement, life, and disability plans.
• Support quarterly and annual open enrollments through employee communications, enrollment tracking, eligibility reviews, and vendor coordination.
• Audit monthly carrier invoices against enrollment records and payroll deductions; resolve discrepancies and coordinate payment with Accounting.
• Administer federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and state-specific family and medical leave procedures, including eligibility reviews, notices, documentation, and leave tracking.
• Coordinate state-mandated disability and paid family leave claim support, wage verification, and applicable job-protection requirements.
• Coordinate workers’ compensation incident reporting, insurer communications, claim records, and workplace safety documentation under applicable state requirements.
• Manage documentation for internal and external payroll, benefits, workers’ compensation, and government audits; track deadlines and corrective actions.
• Monitor changes affecting wage and hour practices, benefits, leave, pay transparency, and required notices; recommend updates to the HR Manager.
• Maintain payroll, benefits, leave, and compliance records according to applicable retention schedules and legal preservation requirements.
• Protect confidential information through restricted access and secure transmission.
• Resolve routine employee payroll, benefits, and leave inquiries; escalate complex compliance issues promptly.
• Perform related HR administrative and compliance duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Hold a bachelor’s degree, preferably in Human Resources, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• Demonstrate HRIS/payroll system and payroll administration experience; at least one year of payroll experience and multi-state experience are preferred.
• Understand payroll calculations, deductions, timekeeping, and reconciliations; apply regulatory guidance accurately. Familiarity with FMLA, state leave programs, and benefits administration is preferred.
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and lookup functions, for payroll and benefits analysis, detailed reconciliations, and accurate reporting.
• Manage competing priorities and recurring payroll, reporting, and compliance deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Communicate professionally with employees, managers, vendors, and agencies; exercise sound judgment and discretion with sensitive information.

Physical Requirements

Perform office-based duties involving regular computer use, document review, and routine communication, with or without reasonable accommodation.